Shop Fail!

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Emma85

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So with little information from the pet store, our new piggy Graham seems to be a foodie fuss pot!

We were told he turns his nose up at carrots but that he loves red pepper. In the last few days he has only eaten red pepper, a tiny chunk of butternut squash and a couple of Strawberry tops. My son also gave him small slice of apple that he gobbled up!

So I decided to pop out and buy some veg to try with him. Kale and beansprouts. Again, one sniff and he goes for his nuggets instead!

I'm hoping when he goes for his big feed at around 8pm he will try and enjoy.

If he continues not to eat veg that I offer, should I start putting the vitamin c in his water? How long should I give it?
 
Try him with lots of different veg: beans, lettuce (not iceberg), celery, spring greens (all are low-ish in calcium and can be fed daily). The pepper can also be fed daily -- as long as he's eating a 4-inch strip of pepper per day, that accounts for a lot of the Vit C he needs (plus his pellets have quite a bit of Vit C as well). Don't be afraid to try lots of different veg... a little bit of whatever you're having -- make sure it's okay for piggies (details here). You'll soon end up with a menu he likes!

Whatever you do, don't add Vit C to his water -- it makes him less likely to drink it (as it tastes funny). If you get really worried, get some Oxbow Vit C supplements, or feed half a child's Vit C chewable (it must only be Vit C, no "immune boost" or multivit). Your piggy needs about 30mg of Vit C per day.

That amount of veg looks fine: you want to give your piggy about a cup a day of veggies.
 
Thank you.

Although offering one cup each day, am I right to be concerned if he doesn't eat a cup full each day? I seem to be throwing most of what I offer away.
 
It depends... some pigs just aren't 'used' to veg, so it can take a while for them to start eating all of what they are offered. Is he eating plenty of hay (just asking in case there might be teeth problems, which would lead him to eat less veggies)? Mine certainly have their likes and dislikes and some days leave half the veg untouched!

Being picky is very common in guineas that are housed alone: if you were able to add a friend, he'd be much quicker to eat most things you offer (if one of my boys turns his nose up at something, I offer it to his cagemate and all of a sudden Mr Fussbutt wants the bit of veg after all).

As long as he's eating some of it, that bodes well. You can always supplement his Vit C until you get him eating a reasonable amount of a veggies.
 
I was told he had a fight and was treated for facial scratches. The shop tried to put him back with other piggies but he was petrified and is much better on his own. They wouldn't sell him without my assurances of not getting a companion.
 
A good rescue would match him up.He would have a better life with a companion.A lot of people believe that boars can't live together.It just needs someone that knows what they are doing
 
As @madguinealady said, a properly matched companion by some who is experienced with piggy dating is ideal. Check out the rescue locator on the website, I've heard of windwhistle warren which is not too far from Cinderford. Worth a call I recon, to see if they can help :tu: I took our Zebedee to Barnsley Animal Rescue today to be bonded, so far so good! x
 
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It would mean he was away from home for a while though and I'm not sure it is the best option for him. There is a reason behind him being alone and I'm having to justify it with every question I ask! I'm sure you are all far more experienced with guinea pigs than I am and it seems that most guinea pigs prefer company. I asked a lot of questions at the let shop and they seemed pretty sure that putting him with another piggy would not be the best option for him. I am inclined to take advice from those who truly know him.

Thanks anyway.
 
i have two boars who live together happily, its really all about personality and pet stores (sorry if this offends anyone) know jack all about bonding or about guinea pigs in general it seems! If you think your boy would be too scared of another pig you have a couple options still.
1: adopt another piggy to live as a neighbour to him, this way he still has some social interaction
2: adopt a baby, baby pigs are not at all threatening and rarely ever challenge for dominance during introductions, babies are automatically accepted it seems as they are just placed at the bottom of the dominance ladder with no issue.
3: find a spayed sow. Mixed gender pairings are the most natural and most stable of bonds for obvious reasons and most male piggies won't turn down the chance to have a wife!
 
No-one is having a go at you but there is a common misconception that if boars are picked on they cannot be paired up.All the pigs I have taken on as singles have truly benifited from company.I had one girl that wouldn't bond with quite a few pigs due to fear.She ended up living with another five girls that were put in as babies and had a fantastic time with them all.
 
Keep trying with the veg, eventually he'll try it.

One of the pigs I got from a rescue would only eat carrot. I think I must have thrown away 20 red peppers before he eventually tried it. Also, try to offer it by hand. One of my boys is funny, he can ignore a lettuce leaf for hours but if I hold it near him and ask if he wants it then he'll take it.

It's hard to keep track of topics and posts, and which pig is whose, so it's common for people to mention stuff multiple times, please don't take it as offence. They have their best interests at heart when they write about pigs being social creatures.
 
Emma85 said:
It would mean he was away from home for a while though and I'm not sure it is the best option for him. There is a reason behind him being alone and I'm having to justify it with every question I ask! I'm sure you are all far more experienced with guinea pigs than I am and it seems that most guinea pigs prefer company. I asked a lot of questions at the let shop and they seemed pretty sure that putting him with another piggy would not be the best option for him. I am inclined to take advice from those who truly know him.

Thanks anyway.
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No one is trying to attack you or make you feel like you are doing the wring thing. The unfortunate thing is that most of the time pet stores seem like they know what they are talking about and they do not. The people here trying to advise you have owned many pigs themselves and have been working with small animal vets for years to learn the best circumstances and conditions for guinea pigs to thrive.

Keep trying with the veg my pigs would only eat romaine lettuce red pepper and carrot. now they eat anything I give them, sometimes they leave it for the first or second time I introduce a new veg but then take it after that. My pigs do not like fruit except for apple which is great since fruit should only be a treat anyways
 
Thanks cassy.

I'd like to explain that I was not feeling attacked at all. I've found the forum very helpful, as a new guinea pig owner! It's so great to have experienced owners at hand with advice. I merely wanted to point out that anything I have asked, people always bring up companionship. I was having to explain why he is on his own in each thread!

It seems Graham is an evening feaster! Last night at around 8pm he ate lots of kale, hay and nuggets. Leaving the beansprouts.

Saying that, when I fed him this morning (carrot leaf tops) he virtually ran to his bowl and ate all of them, leaving his red pepper! I've added some Strawberry leaves and butternut squash for his evening feast.
 
Emma85 said:
Thanks cassy.

I'd like to explain that I was not feeling attacked at all. I've found the forum very helpful, as a new guinea pig owner! It's so great to have experienced owners at hand with advice. I merely wanted to point out that anything I have asked, people always bring up companionship. I was having to explain why he is on his own in each thread!

It seems Graham is an evening feaster! Last night at around 8pm he ate lots of kale, hay and nuggets. Leaving the beansprouts.

Saying that, when I fed him this morning (carrot leaf tops) he virtually ran to his bowl and ate all of them, leaving his red pepper! I've added some Strawberry leaves and butternut squash for his evening feast.
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Awesome! My girls tend to eat more in the evening as well.
 
Like the others have suggested it takes some piggies a while to work out that they actually enjoy fresh veg.
I think this is probably particularly true for guinea pigs who have never actually been fed a variety of foods before, and if your boy came from the pet shop then chances are he has only ever had hay and nuggets.
Our lot turned their nose up a things like celery and coriander for weeks, and now they will literally hurl themselves at the bars of the cage to get to it!
 
I'm pleased to say that he has been having a variety and loving it! I've seen such a difference in him over the last few days.

Today he has enjoyed carrot tops, celery leaves and celery and a piece of apple. Had to explain to my little boy that he can't have apple every day though!
 
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